New Delhi, June 19: Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi here on Friday called the Chinese intrusion in Indian territory and violent clash between the two nations a consequence of “intelligence failure”.

Speaking at the all party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the border standoff between the two countries, Ms Gandhi alleged that failure of NDA government at all avenues led to death of Indian soldiers.

Heads of 20 parties, including the Congress, participated in the virtual meeting, which has been called in wake of the India-China border clash.

Twenty Army personnel, including a colonel, died in the violent clash with Chinese troops in Galwan valley in Ladakh.

Speaking at the all party meeting, which was attended by presidents of various political parties, including the BJP, Congress, TMC, AIADMK, DMK, TRS, JD(U), BJD, LJP, BSP, SP, Shiv Sena and NCP among others, Ms Gandhi said that the opposition continues to remain in the dark about many aspects of the border situation.

‘Even at this late stage, we are still in the dark about many crucial aspects of the crisis. We have some specific questions, for the Government: On which date did the Chinese troops intrude into our territory in Ladakh? When did the government find out about the Chinese transgressions into our territory? Was it on May 5th, as reported, or earlier?

Does the government not receive, on a regular basis, satellite pictures of the borders of our country? Did our external intelligence agencies not report any unusual activity along the LAC? Did the military intelligence not alerted the government about the intrusion and the build-up of massive forces along the LAC, whether on the Chinese side or on the Indian side? In the government’s considered view, was there a failure of intelligence?,’ Ms Gandhi asked.

‘We in the Congress Party believe that valuable time was lost between May 5 and June 6, the date on which the Corps Commanders meeting took place. Even after the June 6 meeting, efforts should have been made to talk directly, at the political and diplomatic levels, to the leadership of China. We failed to use all avenues, and the result is the loss of 20 lives as well as dozens injured,’ the Congress president said and urged the Prime Minister to share with the Opposition all the facts and the sequence of events beginning April this year till date.

‘The entire country would like an assurance that status quo ante would be restored and China will revert back to the original position on Line of Actual Control,’Ms Gandhi said.

‘We would also like to be briefed on the preparedness of our defence forces to meet any threat. In particular, I would like to ask what is the current status of the Mountain Strike Corps, with two mountain infantry divisions, that was sanctioned in 2013? Should the Government not treat it with utmost priority?,’she said.

Ms Gandhi said that the Congress and the entire Opposition unitedly stand by defence forces and are prepared to make any sacrifice to ensure they are battle ready

‘We in the Indian National Congress and the entire opposition unitedly stand by our defence forces and are prepared to make any sacrifice to ensure they are battle ready. The Entire nation expects that Government will take all Opposition Parties and the country into confidence and brief us regularly so that we may present to the world a picture of unity and solidarity,’she said.

The meeting was also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs minister S Jaishankar.

At the start of the meeting, all those present paid tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in Galwan Valley clash.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, have asked the government to be transparent about the situation on the border .

The Congress has been attacking the NDA government over the last few days over its handling of the issue.

In his first comments on the issue on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the sacrifice of Indian soldiers will not go in vain.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said that Indian soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and sacrificed their lives in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

New Delhi, Jun 19: Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja on Friday struck a different note among the Opposition parties at the all-party meet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, here on Friday evening.

Speaking at the meet, held through video-conferencing, Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s Yechury reiterated that the Government of India should initiate high-level talks with China, so that steps were taken, including clear demarcation of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), to maintain peace and tranquility on the border.

”As the Government of India has adopted this stand, the CPI(M) extends its support to this approach,” he said.

The CPI(M) leader also expressed its deep condolences at the death of Indian Army soldiers in the recent clash that took place along the Line of Actual Control at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

D Raja of CPI, who was among the leaders of 20 political parties who took part in the meeting, asked India ”to resist the US efforts to drag us into their alliance”.

New Delhi, June 19: Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday extended full support to the Centre’s handling of the Ladakh standoff, saying “we are united behind our jawans and in solidarity with our Government.”

Putting across her view on the situation along the India-China border, she compared the two neighbours saying that China is not a democracy but a dictatorship and could do what they feel. India, on the other hand, had to work together.

“India will win, China will lose,” she stated and exhorted all to “speak with unity, think with unity and work with unity. We are solidly with the Government.”

The all-party meeting was a good message for the nation, she further said and the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal Government was “united behind our jawans. TMC is strongly in solidarity with the government.”

Today’s all party meeting had been called to discuss the India-China faceoff and the military/diplomatic steps taken by India so far by leaders of major political parties through video conferencing.

The TMC leader told the all-party meeting “Don’t let China enter telecom, railway and aviation sectors. We will face some problems but we won’t allow the Chinese to enter.”

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed on June 15 in a violent clash with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

The clash had erupted when Chinese soldiers, who after initially pulling back a little in consonance with the de-escalation plan finalized by the commanders of two armies, returned to erect a ‘temporary post’ in the shape of tents near Patrolling Point-14 (PP-14).

New Delhi, Jun 19: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said his party stands with India and forces, and strict action should be taken against China.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was not invited to the all-party meeting called by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the border conflict with China today.
Reacting on not being invited for the all-party meeting, the CM said,”Not inviting AAP to the all-party meeting is their call, but we stand with the nation and our security forces. We demand that strict action should be taken against China.”
A crucial all-party meeting was called by Mr Modi to discuss the India-China violent face-off in Eastern Ladakh which resulted in loss of lives of 20 Indian Army men.
Earlier in the day, AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh termed the Centre an ‘ego-ridden’ government, and said that during a national emergency, all parties should be brought together.

Srinagar, June 19: Asserting that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh is under control, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army’s 15 Corps Lt General B S Raju on Friday assured that the required action is being taken by the Army.
“As far as the issue of Ladakh is concerned, there is 14 Corps looking after the operations there and we are also a part of it. Situation, as far as I’m aware, is in control and whatever is required to be done in that area by the forces which are required to operate, are capable of doing their job,” Lt Gen Raju, flanked by the J&K DGP and IG CRPF,” told reporters during a press conference here on Friday.
“I must also say that this is one of the contingency the Army is aware could happen and that particular contingency is being played out. Whatever actions are required are being taken,” he added.
Lt Gen Raju added the situation along the Line of Control (LOC) and hinderland in Kashmir valley is stable. “We will ensure that there will be no misadventure, both from outside the LoC and within the valley,” he added.
The GOC 15 crops ensured that the situation will be kept normal in the valley and the people will be able to go about their job in normal manner.
Meanwhile, the Major-General level talks are being held in the aftermath of June 15 violent clash between troops of India and China at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers.
The clash had erupted when PLA soldiers, who after initially pulling back a little in consonance with the de-escalation plan finalised by the commanders of two armies, returned to erect a ‘temporary post’ in the shape of tents near Patrolling Point-14 (PP-14).
The killing of the soldiers have attracted severe criticism from all political parties and general public in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meeting on Friday where he and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are expected to brief parties about Galwan Valley and current situation at India-China LAC.

Roauf Dar

Srinagar, June 19: National Conference (NC) president and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah Friday said there was no need for his party leaders to attend all party meeting to discuss the India-China clash at Ladakh.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dialed party presidents of major parties last evening to invite them to the meeting.

“I am not going to attend all the party meeting. What is the problem? What National Conference has to do with this issue? Ask them, not me, what should be done,” Farooq told reporters here, when asked what should be done to de-escalate tensions along the LAC in Ladakh and why the NC was not invited for all party meeting.

National Conference, the party which has three Member Parliaments and has ruled most of the time in Jammu and Kashmir has not been invited for the meeting.

Member Parliament National Conference Justice (retired) Hasnian Masoodi said that they have not been invited for an all-party meeting.

“We don’t know why NC has not been invited. We don’t know what criteria was followed for inviting parties. But NC wants that all issues should be resolved only through talks,” he said.

Farooq Abdullah has expressed concern over the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and asked India and China to show restraint and engage in military de-escalation through dialogue.

The Congress and other opposition parties have been questioning the government on the deadly face-off with China in the Galwan Valley area in eastern Ladakh on Monday, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

Srinagar, June 19: The Kashmir unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Friday protested against China by burning the effigy of Chinese President Xi Jinping and its flag following India-China violent face-off in Eastern Ladakh that resulted in loss of lives of 20 Indian Army men.

Scores of BJP leaders assembled outside the party office in Srinagar and raised slogans against China. The BJP leaders later burned effigy of Chinese President and the flag of China.

Meanwhile, the Major-General level talks are being held in the aftermath of June 15 violent clash between troops of India and China at Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

The clash had erupted when PLA soldiers, who after initially pulling back a little in consonance with the de-escalation plan finalized by the commanders of two armies, returned to erect a ‘temporary post’ in the shape of tents near Patrolling Point-14 (PP-14).

The killing of the soldiers have attracted severe criticism from all political parties and general public in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called an all party meeting on Friday where he and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are expected to brief parties about Galwan Valley and current situation at India-China LAC.

New Delhi: Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visited Ladakh for two days – on Wednesday and Thursday – to review the preparations of the IAF, after the face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan valley in which 20 Indian troops were killed on Monday night.
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visited the Leh airbase on Wednesday and the Srinagar airbase on Thursday. The IAF operates several air force bases in Jammu and Kashmir, with Srinagar, Awantipora and Leh operating either fighter squadrons or fighter detachments.
“The Air Force chief was on a two-day visit where he checked the operational readiness of all the platforms that have been moved to the area in view of the Chinese aggression along the LAC in the Eastern Ladakh where more than 10,000 troops have been amassed by China,” ANI quoted government sources as saying.
Today, Indian Air Force fighter jets and attack helicopters, including the recently-acquired Apache chopper, were also spotted over Leh.
The IAF has moved its critical frontline assets including the Sukhoi-30MKI, Mirage 2000 and Jaguar fighter aircraft fleet to advanced positions where they can fly in at a very short notice to carry out operations, news agency ANI reported, and added that the Apache attack helicopters have been deployed in the close vicinity of the areas where operations by the ground troops are taking place at the moment.
The IAF has so far not confirmed details of Chinese Air Force activity, though NDTV has independently been able to confirm – through satellite imagery – the rapid build-up of infrastructure at the Ngari Air Force base in Tibet, not too far from the Pangong Lake where large scale Chinese incursions have taken place.
China operates several air force bases in Tibet which could have a direct bearing in any conflict with India. Pakistan’s air base of Skardu, in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, could also house Chinese fighters. The Indian Air Force is monitoring the situation closely in Skardu but has not confirmed the presence of Chinese fighters at the Pakistan base.
All of China’s air bases are at high altitudes which pose serious operational difficulties. Operating from high altitude bases often means that aircraft have severe weight restrictions and need to cut down on the number of weapons that they carry. The IAF fighters do not face this issue. In addition to its bases in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Air Force jets operating from the plains from bases such as Bareilley and Adampur have no weight penalties and can operate with a full weapons and fuel load.

New Delhi, June 20: The face-off with China in parts of eastern Ladakh is the direct result of the government building better infrastructure including roads in the region, top sources said today on the June 15 clash at Galwan Valley in which 20 soldiers were killed. Tackling opposition criticism, the sources accused the previous Congress government of delaying infrastructure projects in the name of green clearances, pointing out that even former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may have played a role in this lassitude when he was in charge of the Environment Ministry.

“The more frequent face-offs are not necessarily a sign of weakness or bad relations, but indicate a greater ability on the part of the Indian Army to monitor, detect and respond to PLA patrolling. As infrastructure keeps improving, these possibilities will only increase,” government sources said on Friday, setting the stage for the all-party-meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening to discuss the India-China crisis.

Most experts watching the India-China situation have said the government building roads and airfields to improve transport links and narrow the gap with China’s superior infrastructure on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a big reason for the current escalation. At Galwan, India completed a road leading to an airfield in October despite Chinese objections.

Building a road network near the de-facto border with China was one of the first decisions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in 2014, the sources said.

In July 2014, less than two months after PM Modi took office for the first time, a “general approval” was given for a road network to be built by the Border Roads Organization. The blanket approval, which scrapped the need for the centre’s sign-off for every plan, was extended to all border security-related infrastructure, such as outposts, floodlights and fencing.

By comparison, the sources said, the previous Congress-led government had “blocked” such infrastructure for “various reasons”.

“Often the delays were due to flip flops on environmental clearances especially under the stewardship of ministers like Jayanti Natarajan and Jairam Ramesh. Notably, for almost half of the period of 2004-14, the then Prime Minister himself held charge of the Ministry of Environment,” the sources said, without naming Manmohan Singh.

The Modi government cleared the way for the construction of 66 operationally critical Indo-China Border Roads, said the sources.

“Earlier, every approval came to the Ministry of Defence. These powers were subsequently delegated to officers up to Chief Engineer level in the Border Roads Organization,” they said.

The government also bought modern construction equipment on a massive scale between 2017 and 2020 and used Chinooks to airlift construction equipment and material. In a detailed rebuttal, the government contrasted the progress of roads, tunnels and bridges now and on the Congress-led UPA’s watch.

Many opposition leaders have raised questions after the worst-ever escalation at the border with China since 1967. The loudest criticism has been from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who tweeted: “Why is the PM silent? Why is he hiding? Enough is enough. We need to know what has happened. How dare China kill our soldiers? How dare they take our land?”

PM Modi, in a strong message to China, said the soldiers’ sacrifice would not be in vain and warned that India would give a fitting reply when provoked.

15-day old baby becomes youngest victim

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, June 19: Four persons, including a 15-day-old baby, died due to COVID-19 in Kashmir on Friday, taking the death toll across the Union Territory to 76.

Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Nazir Choudhary, told GNS that an 80-year-old man, a resident of Kilara Shopian, was admitted today. “He had bilateral pneumonia and tested positive for COVID -19,” he added.

Earlier the baby, from Bemina area of Srinagar, died along with two others at SKIMS Soura. He was the youngest to die with the disease in Jammu and Kashmir. “The baby was a case of aortic stenosis with CCF. He died in the Infectious Disease Block at 10:55 a.m. today,” Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, said.

The swab sample of the baby was taken on June 16 and it returned positive for the virus next day, he added.

Earlier, an 80-year-old man from Sopore was died at SKIMS Soura, two days after his admission to the hospital at 1:25 p.m. on June 17 with “hypertension,T2DM with CAP with cardiac failure”.

“His sampling for COVID-19 was done on the same day and came out to be Covid-19 positive on June 18 . The patient expired at 9 a.m. today,” Professor Jan added.

Prior to him, a 79-year-old covid-19 patient from Nowshera area of Srinagar died at the tertiary care hospital last night. The man with history of travel to Saudia Arabia was admitted to SKIMS Soura on June 8 and died in Infectious Disease Block of the hospital at around 11:15 p.m. last night, Professor Jan said.

The septuagenarian, he said, had underlying aliments like “hypertension,T2DM, Hypothyroidism, B/L chest infiltrate”.

So far, as per the official data, 76 people have succumbed to the virus in J&K—nine from Jammu and 67 from the Valley.  Srinagar district with 18 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla 13, Shopian (10), Kulgam (8), Jammu (6), five each in Anantnag, Kupwara  and Budgam, Pulwama (two) while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri.  (GNS)